Meena Haq is not once the most person walking around the franchise. He is a lawyer by business and until a few years ago, no restaurant experience. But this did not prevent him from accepting the challenge and taking him as an interim CEO of Tony Roma in 2023.
“I am a very happy lawyer,” she says, “I still practice the law, but I couldn’t reject them – their investors wanted to protect their investment, and they liked how I think and my attitude and leadership skills, and they wanted someone to test. So, I am here.”
Now, the right is working on a return plan to return the franchise once the rich franchise-and then at even more heights.
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Miami in 1972, established in Florida, Tony Roma, known for its child’s ribs and family -friendly environment, was sometimes a popular destination for casual food across the country. At the early 1990s, at its peak, the franchise had 260 locations across the US, concentrated in Florida and California.
But, as the consumer changed the taste and the competition intensified in the contingent dining place, Tony Roma fought to establish his foot. In the last few decades, most American locations closed, which left the brand with an internationally stronger appearance compared to the house. But despite its global appearance, it extends from Guam to Germany to Guatemala, the brand recently tethed into the US on the edge of extinction – only six out of six of its 60 remaining places. The right then joined the company in 2021.
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No restaurant experience? No problem.
Tony Roma initially hired the right to work on legal issues. He assumed that this would be a specific case: come in, work and then move on the next one. Soon, uncomfortable investors saw the brand relevance missing, as well as something. He quickly offered him the job of a general lawyer outside, leading to his legal department. Haq played a role with enthusiasm.
“Well, I was reviewing their contracts, recovering money and advising board members and shareholders, at the point where I developed a relationship on the basis of confidence,” she says. Then, she took a step that she says she never saw: “She offered me the role of CEO in the summer of 2023.”
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Tony Roma’s 2.0
Despite the brand’s domestic decline, Haq stepped into an optimistic and unique approach of the company. “I take the past of the brand as a lesson that can inform my decisions,” she says. “This is where my legal experience comes, because analytical skills are those that lawyers do best – we do not ignore the example, we learn from it.”
After taking over as CEO, Haq immediately began working on a plan to revive Tony Roma’s 2.0 to revive a plan to revive Roma, which has a expected full launch at the end of 2026. The center of this initiative has a new, streamlined store concept-is much smaller than traditional full-shaped restaurants-a compact with a 3,000-procurement format.
“We want a small place,” says Haq. “Our old restaurants have large square footage – 6,000 to 10,000 square feet – and it is no longer a customized size, as you add to the overhead cost of the franchise.” Location selection and other decisions will also be affected by AI, making the company capable of making a long time option.
In addition to updating its physical places, Tony Roma’s 2.0 emphasized technological innovation, including integrating AI in order and store management. Additionally, Haq says that brand will use robotics in areas such as management and food preparation. She sees these progresses not as a replacement for human touch, but as a tool for increasing efficiency, maintains quality quality and frees employees.
Current American franchises are already feeling impact. Tony Roma in Northern Carolina owns Roma, “Since Meena became CEO, there have been noticeable changes in terms of franchise support at the store level.” “Before that, it can happen, ‘Hey, here is a new menu item, use it or not.” Now, there is a lot of training and support. ,
Tony Roma’s strategy to restore the American appearance is already receiving traction. The brand is ready to open its seventh domestic Place Later this year in Tennessi.
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looking ahead
As Tony Roma’s 2.0 ramp, Haq says that we will look at more American places, both standalone and some places. “Tony Roma has done exceptionally good inside Casino,” she says. “We have a successful unit in Las Vegas, where people are still in line for two hours. Therefore, I would like to see more inside Tony Roma’s casinos.”
Franchisees are already buying in this strategic vision, seeing the leadership of Haq as the key to combining the brand storage past with a permanent future. “I think he and his team do a wonderful job of bringing that 2.0 vision forward, keeping the main identity of Tony Roma,” says Shah. “They are still maintaining that Tony Roma has been known for more than 50 years – I wanted to be a franchise originally for more than 50 years.
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